DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT: COMING BACK FROM FAILURE #4

Those who have failed miserably are often the first to see God's formula for success. -- Erwin W. Lutzer
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John 21:1-25

FAILURE NEED NOT BE FATAL OR FINAL
One of the greatest truths that we can glean from Peter’s dilemma is that failure is not necessarily fatal or final.

Peter, having faced his failure… was given the opportunity to put matters right with the Master, and now that this was accomplished, was forgiven and restored back to his rightful position as a child of God, a disciple and an apostle, he had risen from the depths of his anguish and had come back from failure!

Now Peter was ready to face his future... John 21:18-19 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" What joy Peter must have felt when he heard those words… “Follow me!”

Jesus informs Peter what lay ahead for him… Previous to being called by the Lord, Peter was the master of his own destiny, but now he was to fulfil God’s plan for his future, he would be taken against his own will and executed, through this he would glorify God by his death.

Tradition records… that Peter was crucified in Rome under Nero around 67/68 AD, and that by his own request was crucified upside down because he considered himself unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

I doubt … if any of us will be called to die for God, but what an honour it would be to fulfil the ultimate sacrifice for Him, as Peter did. Many of us would be so happy to fulfil God’s plans for our lives, after coming back from failure. It is so good to understand, that failure is never fatal or final, once forgiven and restored, our future in Him, will result in the glorifying of our Lord and Saviour.

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.
-- Corrie Ten Boom.

Loving Father, Thank you for your word and the revelation of knowing that coming back from failure need not be fatal or final, but that you have everything under control. I thank you that you have my destiny in your hands. In Jesus’ wonderful name. Amen.